Sheehan invests in herself for mayoral bid

Albany challenger loans her campaign $35,000 of $59,275 in report

Updated 6:55 pm, Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Kathy Sheehan, Albany city treasurer, receives cheers from supporters when she announces she'll run for mayor during a news conference on Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012, at Washington Park in Albany, N.Y. (Cindy Schultz / Times Union)

Kathy Sheehan, Albany city treasurer, receives cheers from...

Kathy Sheehan, Albany city treasurer, announces she'll run for mayor during a news conference on Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012, at Washington Park in Albany, N.Y. (Cindy Schultz / Times Union)

But at the first turn of what could be a long race, city Treasurer Kathy Sheehan reported having more in her mayoral war chest this week than Jennings, who has yet to say whether he plans to seek a sixth term in November.

Sheehan reported $59,275 in the bank compared to Jennings' roughly $37,700, according the latest campaign finance disclosures filed with the state Board of Elections, the first since Sheehan announced her candidacy for mayor in November.

But all of Sheehan's advantage can be accounted for by a $35,000 personal loan she made to her campaign earlier this month.

Including the loan, Sheehan has amassed $59,160.39 since mid-July compared to $40,707.98 for Jennings, whose fundraising included a Dec. 10 event at the Fort Orange Club.

Still, Jennings' campaign account — while buoyed by the usual cast of developers, builders, lawyers and engineering firms — is less than a third of its size, $122,216, at the same time in 2009 ahead of his last re-election bid.

Jennings declined to comment Wednesday on the numbers or his intentions. "When I'm ready, I'll make the proper announcements," he said. In 2009, he did not formally announce his candidacy until late April, more than a month after two other Democratic rivals, Councilman Corey Ellis and Common Council President Shawn Morris, were already in the race.

Ellis, who is now the 11th Ward Democratic leader, has repeatedly said he plans to run again, though he has not yet formally launched his campaign. His campaign committee's latest filing was not immediately available Wednesday. The deadline to file was Tuesday.

Jennings has historically been a prodigious fundraiser. Four years ago, when his campaign spent at least $581,000, the 19-year-incumbent outspent Ellis nearly 9 to 1 in the primary and general elections, according to a Board of Elections database.

While the battle lines of the potential Democratic primary remain uncertain, the first glimpse at the candidates' finances provides a hint of the possible political alliances on the horizon.

One of Sheehan's biggest donors was the campaign committee of Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple, which contributed $1,075 to her campaign in two donations.

"I like her, and I think she does a good job for the city," Apple said, cautioning, however, that the contributions are "certainly not any kind of official endorsement."

Because of the nature of his job, Apple said won't make any endorsements in the race and noted Jennings' surrogates never approached him to contribute.

"I was never asked by the other side," Apple, also a Democrat, said, "and I don't even know if he's running."

Jennings, meanwhile, received $1,500 from County Legislator Majority Leader Frank Commisso and Commisso's Committee of the Majority. Commisso, who is also 15th Ward Democratic leader, is one of Albany County's most powerful Democrats but has at times been at odds with Jennings, the party's biggest personality and far and away most recognizable elected official.

When Jennings endorsed Commisso's son, Councilman Frank Commisso Jr., last year in the six-way primary to succeed Assemblyman Jack McEneny, many insiders viewed that as a foreshadowing of alliances in this year's 2013 citywide elections.

Since then, the younger Commisso has amped up his public criticism of Sheehan over city financial matters.

In 2009, Commisso bucked the party to back Sheehan against longtime incumbent and Jennings ally Betty Barnette.

Last year, Sheehan supported the eventual victor in the Assembly primary and general election, former school board President Patricia Fahy. Many of whose supporters are now backing Sheehan.

In a separate filing, Jennings' political action committee, the Capital City Committee, reported $46,312 on hand. The state elections database, however, shows that since 2006 Jennings has largely used that account for charitable contributions and to finance allies' campaigns, not his own.

In a news release accompanying her filing, Sheehan touted the number of her donations — 153 — that came in amounts smaller than $100.

"I am building a grass-roots campaign that brings together residents and ideas from every neighborhood from around the city," said Sheehan, who lives off New Scotland Avenue near St. Peter's Hospital. "The generosity and energy from my supporters is inspiring and my campaign will continue to grow and be shaped by them."